silk road

Silk Road

China's vast western region is accessible to travelers along the classic Silk Road, the most important connection between the East and West. Goods traded along the route were mainly silk products and the name Silk Road.

At that time, only China grew mulberry, raised silkworms to make silk products. In 133BC, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) ordered to invade the Huns and established a relation with the west. In 77BC, Han invaded the Loulan state and in 60BC, the superintended government was set up to promote economic and cultural exchanges between them.

This ancient trade route starts in the old capitals of Luoyang and Xi'an (then called Chang'an), reaches the Yellow River at Lanzhou, then skirts westward along deserts and mountains before dividing into three routes at the oasis of Dunhuang.

When the ancient Silk Road came out of the Hexi Corridor into Xinjiang, it broke into three main sections. The eastern section ran from Chang'an to Yumen Pass or Yangguan Pass. The central section started from Yumen Pass or Yangguan Pass to Chongling (the Pamirs). The western section was divided to two routes: one ran through Iran, Iraq and The Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, and the other ran northwestwards to reach Europe via the Aral Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

Generally speaking, the Silk Road brought the constant exchanges between the East and the West. Chinese textile products, papermaking technique and some art crafts were introduced to the west through the route. And the western music, dancing, painting astronomy, calendar and Buddhism were introduced into China.

There was also a Marine Silk Road which connected the southern China and the West.

people-chen 11/21/06, 1:32am